Thorleif Hansen

Torleif Hansen (born 5 October 1948) is a Swedish former professional motocross racer. He competed in the FIM Motocross World Championships from 1968 to 1983, most prominently as a member of the Kawasaki factory racing team.

Biography Hansen was born on 5 October 1948 in Upplands Väsby, Sweden. He finished the series ranked third overall behind the overall winner Sylvain Geboers (Suzuki) and Adolf Weil (Maico).

In 1974, Hansen won three 250cc Grand Prix races, but failed to score points in over half of the races and finished the season ranked fourth in the World Championship. He won two Grand Prix races during the 1976 250cc Motocross World Championship, putting himself in second place behind the points leader Heikki Mikkola (Husqvarna) when he suffered an injury that forced out of contention. He would finish fifth in the final points standings.

Hansen had his best season in 1978 as a member of the Kawasaki factory racing team when he won five Grand Prix races and finished second to Gennady Moiseyev in the 250cc Motocross World Championships. He won the final two races of the season allowing him to leap from fourth to second place in the championship final points standings. Hansen, Hans Maisch (Maico) and Vladimir Kavinov (KTM) finished the season separated by just three points in the final standings. Hansen competed in his final World Championship race at the 1983 250cc Finnish Grand Prix at the age of 34.